GAMBA OSAKA (JPN) v ADELAIDE UNITED (AUS) (0 – 2) (FT)
BRISBANE ROAR (AUS) v BEIJING GUOAN (CHN) (1 – 1) (FT)
ULSAN HYUNDAI (KOR) v FC TOKYO (JPN) (1 – 0) (FT)
BUNYODKOR (UZB) v POHANG STEELERS (KOR) (1 – 0) (FT)

NASAF (UZB) v ESTEGHLAL (IRN) (0 – 2) (FT)
AL RAYYAN (QAT) v AL JAZIRA (UAE) (3 – 4) (FT)
BANIYAS (UAE) v PAKHTAKOR (UZB) (2 – 0) (FT)
AL ITTIHAD (KSA) v AL ARABI (QAT) (3 – 2) (FT)

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 0-2 Kashiwa Reysol
J.League champions Kashiwa Reysol qualified for the last 16 of the AFC Champions League as secon- half goals from Leandro Domingues and Junya Tanaka secured a 2-0 win over K-League counterparts Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors on Tuesday.
With last year’s beaten finalists Jeonbuk only needing a point to qualify from Group H, Brazilian midfielder Leandro Domingues (Leandro Domingues Barbosa) broke the deadlock for Kashiwa four minutes into the second half at Jeonju World Cup Stadium with his fourth goal of the campaign.

And just after the hour mark Tanaka followed up to tap home his third of the campaign from close range as AFC Champions League debutants Kashiwa completed the double over the K-League side to finish as runners-up in Group H behind Chinese Super League champions Guangzhou Evergrande, who edged out Thai treble winner Buriram United 2-1 thanks to Dario Conca’s stoppage-time penalty to end Jeonbuk’s hopes.

Following a cagey first half of few clear-cut chances, Leandro Domingues broke the deadlock four minutes into the second half as the Brazilian rifled home from a tight angle after Jeonbuk had failed to deal with a long ball forward.

And the visitors doubled their advantage two minutes after the hour mark as Tanaka followed up to tap home from close range after Jeonbuk goalkeeper Kim Min-sik could only push Leandro Domingues’ low strike from the edge of the area onto the foot of the post.

Jeonbuk were handed a glorious opportunity to get back into the contest inside the final quarter of an hour as Lee Dong-gook was hacked down inside the penalty area by Naoya Kondo, but the 2011 AFC Champions League top scorer hit the post with goalkeeper Takanori Sugeno well beaten despite diving the right way.

Buriram United 1-2 Guangzhou Evergrande
A stoppage-time penalty from Dario Conca earned Guangzhou Evergrande a 2-1 win over Buriram United and sealed a place in the knockout phase of the AFC Champions League for the Chinese Super League side.

Conca, who was not expected to take any part in the match after receiving a nine-match ban from his club for publicly criticizing coach Lee Jang-soo following the 3-1 loss against Jeonbuk Motors on Matchday 5, slotted home after Brazilian Cleo (Cléverson Gabriel Córdova) had been upended in the penalty area.

The win secures Guangzhou’s place in the Round of 16 as winners of Group H ahead of Kashiwa Reysol – who defeated Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors to also progress – and they will meet either Ulsan Hyundai or FC Tokyo in the next phase of the 2012 competition.

After a goalless first half, Guangzhou went in front four minutes after the restart when Gao Lin laid the ball off to Conca and his return pass sent the Chinese international striker searing down the left. Gao then cut inside before sending a shot that beat goalkeeper Sivaruk Tedsungnoen at his near post.

Buriram, though, refused to roll over and, within eight minutes, Attaphol Buspakom’s side had levelled the scores when Zheng Zhi’s weak attempt to head the ball clear fell into the path of Suriya Domtaisong and he made no mistake.

The game looked set to end in stalemate despite near misses by Frank Acheampong and Sarif Sainui for the home side but, with seconds remaining, Cleo was bundled over in the box by Surat Sukha and Conca thumped his penalty down the middle of Sivaruk’s goal, with the keeper unable to push the shot to safety.

The win not only guaranteed Guangzhou top spot in the group but also eliminated Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, last year’s runners-up.

Guangzhou Evergrande 1-3 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Lee Dong-gook scored twice in the closing stages of the match to give Jeonbuk a 3 – 1 victory over Guangshou in Group H of the 2012 AFC Champions League.

With Guangzhou knowing a win would secure a place in the last 16 as group winners, the exuberant home crowds were on their feet after just 10 minutes as Conca sent Jeonbuk goalkeeper Kim Min-sik the wrong way from the penalty spot after Zhang Linpeng had been bundled over.

But despite being forced onto the back foot for the majority of the opening 45 minutes, Jeonbuk leveled the game a few minutes before half-time as Lee Sung-hyun scrambled the ball inot the Guangzhou net following what looked like chaotic scenes with Guangzhou making some desprate saves in his 6 yard area.

Guangzhou began the second half as it started the first, dominating the game and was given some added ec=ncouragement when Jeonbuk captain Cho was sent-off after picking up a second yellow card following a lunging tackle on substitute Jiang Ning on the edge of the Guangzhou penalty area.

Guangzhou continued to pour forward in the closing stages but struggled to find a way past the reorganised Jeonbuk defence as Jiang fired straight at Kim from a tight angle with five minutes remaining.

And in the last minute Guangzhou conceded possession just inside their own half allowing Seo Sang-min who raced clear, and after drawing Yang off his line, he squared the ball to Lee Dong-gook on the edge of the area and the striker rolled the ball into the empty net.

Jeonbuk sealed the win in stoppage time as second half substitute Hugo Droguett was tripped by Yang as he attempted to skip past the Guangzhou goalkeeper inside the area and Lee Dong-gook confidently converted the resulting penalty.

Kashiwa Reysol 1-0 Buriram United

Kashiwa Reysol maintained their challenge for a place in the knockout rounds of the AFC Champions League with a 1-0 win over Buriram United.

Kashiwa’s Brazilian stricker Domingues danced his way past three Buriram defenders to give Nelsinho Baptista’s side the lead in the 24th minute and move Reysol onto seven points with just one match remaining.

Buriram’s task was made all the more difficult when Hermann Yves Ekwalla was sent off in the 41st minute for a second bookable offence after a nasty tackle on Akimi Barada, leaving the Thai Premier League winners shorthanded for the entire second half.

Victory for Kashiwa over Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors on Matchday Six would take Reysol into the Round of 16 in what is their debut appearance in the competition after the K-League side defeated Guangzhou Evergrande 3-1 in Tianhe Stadium.

Having won their opening two matches, Buriram still retain hopes of progressing to the next round of the competition, with victory over Guangzhou on Matchday Six on home soil needed if Attaphol Puspakom’s team are to have any hope of advancing to the Round of 16.

Buriram United 0-2 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors

Buriram United’s dream start to their maiden AFC Champions League campaign came to an end on Wednesday as former champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors finally registered a win in Group H after posting a 2-0 victory at Buriram Stadium.

Last year’s runners-up Jeonbuk were in real danger of slipping out of the qualification picture in Group H after suffering back-to-back 5-1 defeats by China’s Guangzhou Evergrande and Japan’s Kashiwa Reysol.

But first-half goals from Lee Dong-gook and substitute Seo Sang-min lifted Jeonbuk firmly back into contention as Buriram saw their 100% start ended.

With Kashiwa and Guangzhou sharing a goalless draw in Japan, Jeonbuk moved within three points of leaders Buriram, who saw their lead at the top cut to two points ahead of the return fixture in Korea in two weeks.

Knowing defeat could leave the 2006 champions struggling to qualify for the Round of 16, 2011 AFC Champions League MVP Lee Dong-gook handed Jeonbuk the ideal start as the veteran striker opened the scoring after just nine minutes.

And 11 minutes before half-time Jeonbuk added a crucial second as Seo, who had replaced Brazilian midfielder Luiz Henrique (Luiz Henrique da Silva Alves) midway through the first half, doubled the visitors’ lead.

Kashiwa Reysol 0-0 Guangzhou Evergrande

Chinese Super League champions Guangzhou Evergrande and J.League counterparts Kashiwa Reysol kept their bid to qualify for the knockout phase of the AFC Champions League intact on Wednesday when the teams played out a scoreless draw at Hitachi Stadium.

The draw moved both clubs onto four points as Group H reached the halfway point and the two teams will meet again at Guangzhou’s Tianhe Stadium in two weeks’ time as the Group Stage of the 2012 edition of the continental championship approaches its climax.

Guangzhou had the better of the exchanges throughout the 90 minutes and, as a result, Kashiwa coach Nelsinho (Nelson Baptista Junior) was more than happy to take the point secured by his side.

Guangzhou pressed hard in the opening exchanges, with both Muriqui (Luiz Guilherme da Conceicao Silva)and Sun Xiang sending efforts over the bar inside the first 10 minutes as Kashiwa struggled to handle the pace and passing of the visitors.

It took until the 24th minute for Jorge Wagner (Jorge Wagner Goes Conceicao) to produce Reysol’s first serious attempt on goal, the Brazilian shooting well wide at full stretch, while long-range efforts from Dario Conca and Leandro Domingues (Leandro Domingues Barbosa) did little to worry either teams’ goalkeeper.

Gao Lin and Cleo (Cleverson Gabriel Cordova) both saw their attempts to score deflected wide by a diligent and well-organised Kashiwa defence after the turnaround while Reysol could have taken all three points with just nine minutes remaining, but substitute striker Ricardo Lobo steered his sliding effort wide after Jorge Wagner’s low cross curled invitingly behind the Guangzhou defence.

Guangzhou Evergrande 1-2 Buriram United
Frank Acheampong struck 12 minutes from time to earn Buriram United a well-deserved 2-1 victory over Guangzhou Evergrande on Wednesday evening as the Thai Premier League champions moved to the top of the standings in Group H of the AFC Champions League.

Buriram’s win was the first ever in the AFC Champions League by a Thai club in China and it was the young Ghanaian who was the architect of the victory, scoring the winner as well as earning the penalty that gave his side the lead first time around.

Acheampong’s pace was the undoing of the Guangzhou defence, with the 18-year-old tormenting Zhang Linpeng to such an extent that he was taken off by coach Lee Jang-soo after just 35 minutes.

By that stage, Acheampong had already seen a goal-bound effort cleared off the line by Zheng Zhi after he skillfully found his way around goalkeeper Yang Jun in the 16th minute.

It was his direct running that earned Buriram their penalty as Acheampong seared into the area and was brought down by Yang, with Suchao Nutnum firing the resulting spot into the top corner to give Buriram the lead in the 62nd minute.

Guangzhou came back via a towering header from Brazilian striker Cleo as he latched onto an in- swinging cross by his compatriot Muriqui eight minutes later, only for Acheampong to prod the ball over the line after Frank Ohandza’s cross in the 78th minute and maintain Buriram’s perfect start to their first-ever AFC Champions League campaign.

Guangzhou coach Lee Jang-soo tried to remain optimistic after a loss that leaves his team on three points from their opening two AFC Champions League matches.

Kashiwa Reysol 5-1 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors

Korean champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors slipped to a second straight 5-1 hammering as last year’s AFC Champions League finalists were comprehensively beaten by J.League champions Kashiwa Reysol in Group H on Wednesday evening.

The 2011 K-League winners had lost their opening match of the 2012 continental campaign by the same scoreline to Chinese Super League champions Guangzhou Evergrande and the Lee Heung-sil-coached side now look in real danger of not progressing to the knockout phase.

Three goals in a five-minute burst in the first half condemned Jeonbuk, and the margin of defeat could have been greater but for Leandro Domingues’s missed penalty early in the second half.

Daisuke Nasu gave Kashiwa the lead in the 40th minute as he headed home Jorge Wagner’s free kick from the left and five minutes later it was 2-0 as Leandro converted from the spot.

With barely seconds remaining in the half, Leandro struck again, this time with an exquisite finish from 25 yards that flew over the head of goalkeeper Lee Bum-soo.

Chinese international midfielder Huang Bowen pulled one back for Jeonbuk six minutes after the restart but goals from Junya Tanaka and Akimi Barada ensured Reysol bounced back from their Matchday One loss to Buriram United in emphatic style.

The loss was Jeonbuk’s second heavy defeat in a row in the AFC Champions League and coach Lee is concerned the result might have a linger effect on his players.

Jeonbuk Motors  v  Guangzhou Evergrande (1-5)
Guangzhou Evergrande emphatically signaled their AFC Champions League intentions by  stunning last year’s runners-up Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.

Although the start was relatively even, Guangzhou gradually began to assert their authority on the game as the half progressed and the visitors took the lead after 27 minutes through Cleo.

With Jeonbuk conceding possession to Gao Lin on the edge of their own penalty area, the China international exchanged a series of intricate passes with Cleo before the Brazilian striker guided a composed strike past Kim Min-sik.

The home side twice came close to a response through Eninho (Enio Oliveira Junior), but four minutes before the break the visitors doubled their advantage as Conca guided a free-kick from a central position just outside the Jeonbuk penalty area around the wall and into the bottom corner.

The second half began as the first ended with Guangzhou dominating. With 21 minutes remaining Guangzhou added a third as Cleo slid in to divert Conca’s angled strike past a helpless Kim.

Jeonbuk found an instant response as Jeong’s exquisite backheel from Lee Dong-gook’s low cross reduced the deficit with 20 minutes remaining.

Guangzhou, though, emphatically responded as Conca added his second of the night with a superb 25-yard strike with 17 minutes remaining before Muriqui found his way onto the scoresheet as the Brazilian showed superb control on the edge of the area before drilling a strike under Kim from the edge of the area.

Buriram United v  Kashiwa Reysol (3-2)

Jirawat’s 10th minute opener and a superb strike from Uzbekistan midfielder Askar Jadigerov seven minutes before the break handed Attaphol Puspakom’s side a dream start at Buriram Stadium.

Playing their first ever match in the AFC Champions League, Buriram quickly got into the stride and offered the greater threat in the opening exchanges and the home side broke the deadlock in the tenth minute as Jirawat beat goalkeeper Takanori Sugeno at his near post.

Buriram made the most of an opportunity at around the half hour mark, when Jadigerov found space on the edge of the Kashiwa area before coolly guiding a looping shot over Sugeno’s despairing dive to double the home side’s advantage in spectacular fashion.

An unmarked Tanaka was presented with a glorious chance to reduce the deficit just before half-time, but he could only direct a weak header straight at Sivaruk Tedsungnoen.

Tanka, though, was not to be denied 10 minutes into the second half as half-time substitute Lobo sent a low cross across the face of the Buriram goal, handing his strike partner a simple finish at the back post.

And Lobo again turned provider nine minutes later as the Brazilian surged down the right and delivered an inviting cross into the area for Japan Under-23 international Sakai to rise above the Buriram defence and send a powerful header into the bottom corner.

But with 13 minutes remaining, Jirawat scored at close range with a powerful shot to win the match for Buriram.

Suwon Samsung Bluewings won Group H of 2011 AFC Champions League as a convincing 3-0 victory over Shanghai Shenhua at Shanghai Hongkou Stadium saw them edge out Kashima Antlers on goals scored.

Ha tae-gyun struck twice as he headed the visitors in front after 12 minutes before netting the second 10 minutes after the break. Shin Se-gye added a third goal two minutes before time as the K-League side walked away with all three points.

Xin Feng came close to an opener five minutes from the start, connecting with Zheng Wei’s free-kick from the left but seeing his glancing header flick the crossbar.

The Koreans then gained the upper hand as they began to dominate midfield.

Ha collected a failed attempted clearance by goalkeeper Dong Lei but his 15-yard drive hit Xiong Fei. However, the visitors soon opened the scoring.

Choi Sung-kuk beat Xiong and then forced Dong to palm away is powerful shot at full stretch.

Abdulkader Dakka then made a last-gasp intervention to deny Park Jong-jin’s follow-up, only to see the ball bounce up in front of the goal-line, which enabled Ha to head home comfortably.

Five minutes after the half-hour mark, Choi thought he doubled the advantage for Suwon with a fierce close-range shot, only to see Dong make an excellent save to deny him.

The visitors continued to dominate their Chinese rivals after the break.

Park made a strong run into penalty area just two minutes into the second period, poking the ball wide off the right post when he found himself one-on-one with Dong.

As the hosts began to look more lethargic, Suwon stepped up pressure on the Shanghai defence and turned the game into a one-sided affair as they extended their lead.

Dong parried out a 20-yard effort from Ha but Park swooped on the rebound and delivered a pass across the face of goal for Ha to steer the ball into the net.

Xin wasted an effort of note for the hosts on the hour mark, heading Zheng’s corner straight at keeper Jung Sung-ryong.

Shanghai almost pulled a goal back but an unmarked Wang Yang could not find the target from Wen Huyi’s inviting cross.

Suwon then claimed their third goal when substitute Yeom Ki-hun cut into box before delivering a smart pass for Shin to fire past Dong.

Kashima Antlers came from a goal down to overcome Sydney FC 2-1 at the National Stadium in Tokyo.

Matthew Jurman headed Sydney into a first-half lead but Kashima fought back after the break and goals from Yuya Osako and Takuya Nozawa sealed their third win in this season’s competition.

Sydney had a good chance to take the lead after just two minutes when Bruno Cazarine found space in the box but keeper Hitoshi Sogahata did well to deny the forward’s low shot with an outstretched leg.

Nick Carle was then off target when well placed before keeper Liam Reddy held Daigo Nishi’s glancing diving header at the other end.

Nozawa fired a free-kick straight at the Sydney custodian in the 16th minute before Kenji Koyano picked out Reddy with a side foot effort after the ball had broken to him at the edge of the box following Osako’s run.

Sydney then took the lead in the 25th minute when Jurman met a corner from the left with a powerful header inside the six-yard box that left Sogahata with no chance.

Mitsuo Ogasawara then saw a goal-bound effort deflected over by the head of Jurman and Nozawa’s strike from range was comfortably held by Reddy as Sydney went in at the break a goal to the good.

The second-half took a while to warm up but Kashima eventually conjured an equaliser in the 64th minute when Masahiko Inoha’s cross from the left was nodded back across goal and Osako was on hand to sweep home a volley from close range.

The forward then directed a header wide of the far post before Cazarine was off target with his head at the other end from Terry McFlynn’s intelligent ball forward.

Reddy had to be alert to preserve the status quo as a nice ball inside the full-back released Toru Araiba down the left and he drove into the box but elected to shoot when he might have crossed and the Sydney keeper parried his effort.

However, the hosts netted the winner with six minutes to go when Nozawa’s low free-kick from 25 yards threaded its way through the Sydney wall and a crowded penalty area to find the bottom corner past a diving Reddy.

Suwon Samsung Bluewings booked their place in the second round of the 2011 AFC Champions League with a 3-1 victory over Sydney FC at Suwon World Cup Stadium.

Despite Sydney’s need for victory, Suwon started brightly and almost took the lead in the 15th minute when a long, floated free-kick by Park Jong-jin from just past the halfway line found Kwak Hee-joo near the penalty spot but the visitors were relieved to see the central defender’s looping header bounce off the top of the crossbar.

Just as Sydney were looking more comfortable, albeit without troubling Jung Sung-ryong in the Suwon goal, they fell behind on the half-hour. A free-kick was curled behind the Sydney backline for Ha to nod home from the edge of the six-yard box.

Five minutes after the restart, Suwon doubled their advantage. Neretljak curled a free-kick – awarded just outside the area – over the Sydney wall and into the unguarded left side of the net.

Sydney immediately pulled a goal back. Substitute Rhyan Grant broke free down the left and his crossed was not dealt with by the Suwon defence. The ball bounced through to Cazarine, who slotted the ball past Jung from close range.

The goal gave Sydney belief that they could get something from the game and soon after, the Brazilian was forcing a diving stop from Jung with a well-placed header as Suwon were pushed onto the back foot.

Sydney almost drew level with 15 minutes remaining. Nick Carle brought the ball out of defence from a corner and found Andrew Durante with a fine pass. Through on goal, Durante chose to pass to Grant just inside the area allowing Jung to dive and intercept.

The contest was settled in style with 10 minutes to go. Yeom, introduced as a substitute, picked up the ball on the right corner of the penalty area and curled a low shot into the far corner that give keeper Liam Reddy no chance.

Shinzo Koroki scored twice as Kashima Antlers closed in on a place in the last 16 of the 2011 AFC Champions League with a 2-0 win over Shanghai Shenhua at the National Stadium in Tokyo.

Kashima took a lead in the 32nd minute when Koroki got on the end of a Mitsuo Ogasawara free-kick before the 24-year-old forward finished from close range following Fellype Gabriel’s shot with 10 minutes to go.

Kashima goalkeeper Hitoshi Sogahata also made some fine saves to help his side collect three points.

With the win, Kashima moved onto nine points with one game remaining while Shanghai remain bottom with two points in Group H.

The opener came for hosts in the 32nd minute, when Koroki rose high in the area to head an Ogasawara set-piece into the back of the net.

Shanghai had to beat the J.League hosts to keep their own hopes alive but were without two attackers, Luis Salmeron and Wen Huyi, due to suspension and the visitors often looked in Columbian forward Duvier Riascos’ direction with attacking midfielder Cao Yunding playing off him.

After the break, Shanghai boss Xi Zhikang shifted defender Jiang Jiajun up front in a bid to mount a comeback.

Shanghai went close with Riascos’ mid-range effort soon after the break before the Columbian forward cut into the box and shot from close range in the 56th minute but both attempts were denied by Sogahata.

The Kashima goalkeeper was called into further action to deal with Jiang’s attempt in the 61st minute and Feng Renliang’s controlled shot from distance in the 75th minute.

Soon after Kashima doubled their lead through a corner, Koroki reacted quickest to a rebound after substitute midfielder Gabriel’s initial effort had been saved.

Yuzo Tashiro’s goal saw Kashima Antlers rescue a 1-1 draw with Suwon Samsung Bluewings in Group H of the 2011 AFC Champions League at the National Stadium in Tokyo.

Suwon went ahead in the 48th minute through Yeom Ki-hoon’s free-kick but Tashiro leveled for Kashima in the 55th minute.

Playing at the National Stadium due to damage to Kashima’s home ground following last month’s earthquake, the top two teams in Group H battled hard throughout the contest.

Their first notable opening came in the 26th minute when Takuya Nozawa fired narrowly wide from just outside the box.

Suwon, who were held to a 1-1 draw in the first game in Korea two weeks ago, created a couple of chances late in the first-half through Ha Tae-goon and Yeom on the counter but Ha’s effort was denied by Kashima goalkeeper Hitoshi Sogahata while Yeom’s shot was off target.

The game then came alive soon after the break.

Suwon won a free-kick after Park Jong-jin, on for forward Choi Sung-kuk, was fouled just outside the box and Yeom found the right corner of the net with a left-footed effort to give the visitors the lead.

Kashima responded quickly and seven minutes later they leveled the scores, also from a set piece. Midfielder Takeshi Aoki was brought down outside the box on the right and Nozawa took the free-kick, delivering a cross towards substitute Yasushi Endo at the far post. The young midfielder knocked the ball to forward Tashiro, who tapped in from close range.

An excellent last-gasp winner from Mark Bridge kept Sydney FC’s hopes of reaching the knockout stage of the 2011 AFC Champions League well and truly alive after they secured a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Shanghai Shenhua at Shanghai Hongkou Stadium.

Bruno Cazarine struck twice as the Sky Blues picked up their first win in the Group H campaign, though they had to twice come back from one goal down before Bridge’s decisive intervention in stoppage time.

Jiang Jiajun put the hosts ahead after only eight minutes before Cazarine cancelled out the strike during first-half stoppage time.

An own goal from Scott Jamieson saw Shanghai restore their lead seven minutes after the break but Cazarine hauled the hosts back a minute before the hour mark with a composed effort. Bridge then gave the visitors all three points with a spectacular volley.

The Sky Blues narrowed the gap between pacesetters Kashima Antlers and Suwon Samsung Samsung Bluewings to only one point with two games to go after the two sides played out a 1-1 draw in Tokyo.

Shanghai had the first chance after four minutes when Colombian striker Duvier Riascos broke clear down the right before sending a low cross for Jiang Jiajun to stab wide from 10 yards.

The hosts took the lead soon after when Jiang Kun smartly clipped a free-kick from the left towards the unmarked Jiang Jiajun, who cut into the box before steering the ball past keeper Liam Reddy.

Bridge created the first meaningful action for the visitors with a long-range effort after 15 minutes but it flew wide.

On the stroke of half-hour mark, Shannon Cole picked out Matthew Jurman with a well-weighted free-kick only for the defender to head the ball over the frame of the goal.

However, Sydney equalised In the dying minutes of the first period. Cole delivered a cross into the path of Cazarine and he calmly finished past the onrushing Qiu Shengjiong with just the Shanghai keeper to beat.

The hosts immediately forged down the other end and Luis Salmeron set-up Riascos with a well-timed pass but the Colombian powered the ball over from 15 yards.

Riascos threatened Reddy with a 25-yard curling shot shortly after the break but his effort was off target.

Shanghai then went in front for a second time as Jiang Kun fired a cross across the face of goal and Jamieson headed the ball past Reddy into his own net under pressure from Salmeron.

The visitors levelled seven minutes later when Bridge headed Terry McFlynn’s cross to Cazarine, who smartly chested the ball down before beating Qiu with an excellent finish.
But with the game seemingly heading for a draw, Bridge struck a dramatic winner, volleying Dimitri Petratos’ header into the bottom corner to give Sydney three much-needed points.

Sydney FC 1-1 Shanghai Shenhua
Sydney FC had a golden opportunity to take a commanding position in the Group H game but could only manage a 1-1 draw with Shanghai Shenhua.

Sydney dominated the game for very long periods but couldn’t convert enough chances to win the game. Surprisingly however it Shanghai who made the more aggressive start and took the lead after just six minutes through striker Duvier Riascos.

The burly striker was first to react to Luis Salmeron’s flick on, turning inside Stephan Keller and unleashing a left foot shot that deflected off Sebastian Ryall to leave goalkeeper Liam Reddy stranded.

But the hosts were back on level terms just six minutes later. Stand-in Sydney skipper Stuart Musialik was given too much time in midfield and he combined with Bruno Cazarine to set up Carle, whose strike form the edge of the box proved too hot for keeper Qiu Shenjiong to handle.

Sydney took control from that point on, forcing Shanghai to defend deep in their own half and creating a host of chances.

The visitors were having trouble coping with the movement of Carle, David Williams and Mark Bridge and it was the latter to that almost gave the Sky Blues the lead, forcing a couple of smart saves out of Qiu.

On the half hour some desperate last ditch defending from Dai Lin denied Carle his second while Qiu again denied Bridge with a diving one-handed save to tip his shot around the post.

That string of missed chances almost came back to haunt Sydney just before the break as the lively Feng Renliang was twice denied a goal, once by the crossbar and then by a fine low save by Reddy.

It was just as frenetic after the break as both sides continued to create chances.

First on 54 minutes Riascos struck a stinging volley from edge of box which, luckily for Sydney, was straight at Reddy.

And then two minutes later the Sky Blues should have gone in front when Cazarine brilliantly chested down Bridge’s left-wing cross only to drag his shot wide.

The visitors seemed content to sit back and hold on for a draw from then on, getting men behind the ball at every opportunity.

It made it difficult for Sydney to the find space to create many clear-cut chances but both Hirofumi Moriyasu and Keller came close in the last 20 minutes.

Suwon Samsung Bluewings 1-1 Kashima Antlers
A Koji Nakata strike earned Kashima Antlers a 1-1 draw with Suwon Samsung Bluewings in Group H of the 2011 AFC Champions League.

It was a cagey opening between two powerhouses of East Asia football. Ha Tae-gyun was the liveliest player on the pitch in the early stages and the hat-trick hero from Suwon’s 4-0 win over Shanghai Shenhua forced a save out of Hitoshi Sogahata in the third minute after dancing round two Kashima challenges.

The same player stayed on his feet in the area after 20 minutes when he looked to have been fouled by Daiki Iwamasa but while Suwon were on top, Kashima came close six minutes later as Takuya Nozawa’s free-kick just cleared the frame of the Suwon goal.

As the half progressed, Kashima were forcing their way back into the game and 10 minutes before the break, created another opportunity when a goal-kick was headed on twice allowing Shinzo Koroki to outpace Mato Neretljak and drive into the Suwon area but while the striker lifted the ball over goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryeong, it also cleared the bar.

Chances were at a premium in the second-half. Kashima had lost their impetus from the closing stages of the first 45 minutes and it took Suwon until the 67th minute to break the deadlock.

A long throw-in from the left side by Yang Sang-min was nodded on by Ha and Yeom got to the ball just ahead of the advancing Sogahata to head it over the line.

Kashima leveled when a Nozawa corner was headed on by Iwamasa to land at the feet of an unmarked Nakata, who swept the ball home from close range.

Suwon Samsung Bluewings 4-0 Shanghai Shenhua
Ha Tae-gyun’s scored a hat-trick for Suwon Samsung Bluewings as they thumped Shanghai Shenhua 4 -0 in their Group H game of the 2011 AFC Champions League. The win places Suwon as leaders in their group after two rounds.

It was a very quick start with Suwon scoring with their first attack of the game in the third minute. A long ball was floated into the penalty area, it  fell to Ha around the penalty spot and the striker held off the challenge of Jiang Jia Jun with his right arm to fire a low shot into the net with his left foot.

The second goal towards the end of the first half (43rd minute), when Yeom Ki-hyun beat two defenders on the left side and his low cross was cleared by Jiang on the edge of the six-yard box only as far as Oh Jang-eun, who passed the ball into the bottom corner of the Shanghai goal.

China’s Shanghai had been reduced to long-range shots for most of the first half and didn’t really get close enough to pose a major threat to Suwon.

On the hour mark, Ha scored his second and Suwon’s third. Choi Sung-kuk gained possession outside the Chinese area and slipped a delightful ball through for the striker to run onto and clip past the advancing Wang.

Shanghai had several chances late into the second half but Luis Salmeron unable to convert.

Ha then scored his third for the night to put Suwon four up, when he side-footed Oh Beom-seok’s looping cross into the net from just outside of the box.

Sydney FC (0 – 0) Suwon Samsung Bluewings
Ten-man Sydney FC and Suwon Samsung Bluewings played out a hard-fought scoreless draw in their opening AFC Champions League Group H match at the Sydney Football Stadium on Wednesday.

The home side were forced to play a man short for nearly an hour in a sometimes tempestuous contest after skipper Terry McFlynn was dismissed for stamping on Lee Sang-ho.

Suwon fielded their quartet of new signings in defender Hwang Jae-won, midfielder Lee Yong-rae, striker Yeom Ki-hoon as well as Korea Republic’s 2010 FIFA World Cup goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryong.

Despite high-tempo movement at times Suwon displayed rustiness on a number of occasions ahead of the K-League season, which commences this weekend, while Sydney, whose A-League season concluded three weeks ago, extended their unbeaten run to nine matches in their first continental outing for three years.

Sydney’s new signing David Williams had a quiet debut on the right flank where he was rarely allowed enough latitude to display his speed. Striker Bruno Cazarine was invariably forced to battle alone up front following the dismissal of McFlynn.

In a match of few openings Suwon’s Choi Sung-kuk had perhaps the best chance of the contest after just eight minutes but the visiting captain spurned a glorious opportunity by blazing well over with only exposed goalkeeper Liam Reddy to beat.

At the other end the home side failed to test the visiting goalkeeper until moments before half-time with Sydney’s Japanese midfielder Hirofumi Moriyasu warming the palms of keeper Jung from distance.

The Koreans commenced the second period in bright fashion with Yang Sang-min forcing a fine sprawling save from Reddy, before Oh Jang-eun narrowly cleared the crossbar with a spectacular overhead kick.

Suwon defender Mato Neretljak curled a free-kick around the wall with five minutes remaining only for the ball to clear the near post of a diving Reddy.

Almost immediately after Sydney defender Stephan Keller directed a header wide as the home side ramped up the pressure in the final minutes.

However a goal was not forthcoming for either side, meaning they both had to settle for a share of the spoils in their ACL opener.

Kashima Antlers (0 – 0) Shanghai Shenhua
Kashima Antlers were held by Shanghai Shenhua in a goalless draw at Hongkou Stadium on Wednesday in their AFC Champions League Group H opener.

The visitors from Japan were the better of the two sides throughout the match, but they failed to break Shanghai’s gritty defence.

All four sides in the group are tied on one point after Sydney FC and Suwon Samsung Bluewings also played out a goalless draw in Sydney earlier on Wednesday.

The visitors looked more dangerous in the first half, having plenty of possession while Shanghai appeared defensive-minded, and they were the first to threaten in the early exchanges.

Shanghai goalkeeper Wang Dalei made no mistake in denying Takuya Nozawa’s two long-range efforts shortly after the match got underway.

Kashima had another sniff of goal with 15 minutes gone when Fellype Gabriel headed Nozawa’s corner into the path of the onrushing Takeshi Aoki at the far post, only to see Wang make a timely block to deny the midfielder.

It was not until 20 minutes into the game that the hosts made their first attempt when Duvier Riascos’ left-footed long-range effort was collected by keeper Hitoshi Sogahata with ease.

Luis Salmeron then posed a real threat to Sogahata, heading Jiang Kun’s cross from the right over the crossbar.

Four minutes after the half-hour mark, Fellype Gabriel headed Nozawa’s cross across the face of goal, only to see Shanghai’s Syrian defender Abdulkader Dakka react quickly to clear it.

Kashima accelerated their attacking pace after the interval as the hosts looked determined to guard the goal with a massed defence.

However, Shanghai created a golden opportunity nine minutes into the second period through a counter-attack.

Jiang’s volley on the edge of the penalty area deflected off a defender before Salmeron collected the loose ball from 10 yards, but his lobbed shot wasn’t strong enough to beat Sogahata.

Kashima then turned the remainder of the game into a one-sided affair, having Shanghai pinned inside their own half.

But the visitors were still unable to produce much real attacking threat while Salmeron called Sogahata into action following a counter attack four minutes after the hour mark. The Argentinean striker latched onto a well-weighted cross from Wu Xi before clipping a 15-yard effort which was parried out by the keeper with a superb reflex save.

Kashima came close to a first goal four minutes later when a corner by Alex caused a goalmouth scramble with Fellype Gabriel hitting a spectacular bicycle kick that flew just over the bar.

But neither side managed to create any meaningful action in the last 20 minutes, meaning they had to settle for a share of the points.

Today we move on to Group H and the East of the AFC Asian Champions League 2011.

Group H is made up of the following teams:

• KASHIMA ANTLERS (JPN)
• SHANGHAI SHENHUA (CHN)
• SUWON SAMSUNG BLUEWINGS (KOR)
• SYDNEY FC (AUS)

KASHIMA ANTLERS (JPN)
Winners of the 209  J League, Kashima ended the 2010 season in 4th position with 16 wins, 12 draws and 6 loses. Although 4th, Kashima only missed out on 2nd by 2 points, so a very tight 2010 season in which Kashima actually performed really well. Given their past season, you can be confident that they will come into this year’s AFC Champions League keen to continue their good form as the 2011 season also kicks off. Now Group H is a very tough group but Kashima must be one of the favourites to progress.

SHANGHAI SHENHUA (CHN)
Shanhai had a very successful 2010, finishing 3rd in the Chinese Super League only 2 points behind 2nd with 14 wins, 6 draws and 10 loses. The 10 loses is actually very high compared to the other top 3 places. However the number of wins was actually second best. With no appearance in the 2010 AFC Champions League, Shanghai is another team that will be eager to get off to a good start. This is a very tough group but they have a chance to make second if they can atleast win their home games.

SUWON SAMSUNG BLUEWINGS (KOR)
Suwon did not have a great 2010 domestically finishing 7 and 20 points off first position. Therefore it will be interesting how well they go. You would normally see them as another power house and as we know domestic performance doesn’t always equal AFC performance. In last year’s Champions League Suwon was knocked out in the first round of playoffs by eventual winner and fellow Korean outfit Seongnam. If Suwon isn’t the power house you would expect, then both Sydney and Shanghai have a great opportunity to progress.

SYDNEY FC (AUS)
After a fantastic 2009 season where Sydney was the standout team in the A League, 2010 has been a much different story with Sydney not making the playoffs. They did however have a late run which saw them just miss out. This is their 2nd appearance in the AFC Champions League and where the first Australian team to participate some 4 – 5 years ago. They have recruited for this competition and with a poor 2010 showing locally they will be keen to do much better internationally. They have a chance, but it is slim as this is a very tough group.

Top spot was up for grabs in Group H. Adelaide have managed to take top spot despite losing 1 – 0 at home to Shandong Luneng. Pohang Steelers, meanwhile, will join them in the knockout stages even though they ended up on the wrong side of a seven-goal thriller against Japanese side Sanfrecce Hiroshima.

Having one the away clash in China, Adelaide were favourites to win at home and take first place. There was however talk that Adelaide tend to get better results away from home, and that is how it turned out.

Shandong defended for much of the game, but a second-half counter-attack saw Li Wei skip past Adelaide defender Robert Cornthwaite before firing in the only goal of the game.

“It was a game that I thought we dominated,” said caretaker Adelaide coach Joe Mullen at full-time. “I think they only had one chance on goal. Although we conceded we still had plenty of time after that but we just couldn’t capitalise.”

Sanfrecce Hiroshima 4–3 Pohang Steelers

Pohang needed a result today to avoid meeting Kashima in the round of 16 clash. Sanfrecce however had other ideas and being a great form at the moment delivered a 7 goal thriller.

The hosts took the lead with less than a minute on the clock as Kohei Shimizu tapped in from close range. Kim Jae-sung then bought the Steelers level just three minutes later as both teams finally settled. Lee headed home just after half an hour to reclaim the lead for Sanfrecce and when Shinichiro Kuwada put them two ahead just before the break, it looked as if the Japanese outfit would make it three out of three; especially when Alexandro missed a spot-kick for the Steelers minutes later.

However, Kim Jae-sung pulled one back a few minutes into the second-half before Shin Hyung-min equalised from outside the box on the hour mark. Then, with just nine minutes left, Steelers defender Kim Tae-su brought down Koji Nakajima in the box, earning himself a red card. Hisato Sato stepped up, but instead of drilling the ball home he elected to pass his penalty to the onrushing Tomoaki Makino who sealed the victory.

Adelaide United has claimed top spot in Group H despite going down 1-0 to Shandong Luneng at Hindmarsh stadium in the final group game of the Asian Champions League.

A second-half goal to Lei Wei was enough for the the Chinese Super League side to secure the win, but Sanfreece’s 4-3 win over Pohang Steelers in Japan denied the current holder the chance to secure top billing in Group H.

Group G

Gamba Osaka 2-1 Suwon Samsung Bluewings

A last minute strike by Takashi Usami, assured Gamba Osaka first place in Group G.

Gamba started the game in second position, 2 points behind Suwon, who had also yet to lose a game.

Suwon scored first in the 58th minute through Jose Mota, his fifth goal of the competition.

However, the Koreans were pegged back only three minutes later by Takahiro Futagawa.

Scores remained at 1-1 until injury time when the 17-year-old Usami netted the winner.

Gamba now lead the group with 1 point and play their final group game away to Henan. Suwon host Singapore Armed Forces in a game they will be expected to win convincingly.

Singapore Armed Forces 2-1 Henan Construction

Singapore Armed Forces won their first AFC Champions League game last night, beating Henan Construction by 2 – 1. This leaves the Chinese Super League side propping up the table with one match remaining.

Daniel Bennett’s 66th minute strike was equalised by Le Yu six minutes later but Erwan Gunawan Suherman assured Singapore’s first win with 12 minutes to go.

Group H

Pohang Steelers 0-0 Adelaide United

Pohang Steelers and Adelaide United have both progressed through to the next round at the expense of Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Shandong Luneng, by sharing the points with a 0 – 0 draw.

Adelaide lead by goal difference and host Shandong on matchday 6. Pohnag are away to Sanfrecce Hiroshima.

Shandong Luneng 2-3 Sanfrecce Hiroshima

A thrilling second-half, which saw four goals scored, left Sanfrecce Hiroshima the eventual winner but it was all in vain as Adelaide and Pohang secured the top two spots in the group.

Shandong took the lead through a Peng Han penalty on the 45 minute mark before Koji Morisaki levelled for Sanfrecce in the 75th minute. Sanfrecce made it 2 – 1 five minutes later thanks to Tadanari Lee but Shandong battled back to level five minutes from time thanks to Fred Benson. Lee was to have the last say though as he scored on the stroke of full time.

Group C

Pakhtakor Tashkent 3-2 Al-Ain

Pakhtakor needed a win over Al-Ain of UAE to all but guarantee their qualification to the second round. It didn’t however start that favourably when Jorge Valdivia gave Al Ain the lead after just three minutes with a trademark free kick.

Odil Ahmedov was left unmarked to head home an equaliser for Pakhtakor just six minutes later. Three minutes later Ahmedov put Pakhtakor ahead with an excellent finish. A frantic opening 20 minutes to the second half ended with an equaliser via an own goal from Ilhomjon Suyunov. Ahmedov then completed the scoring, and his hat-trick, on 28 minutes from close range.

Sepahan 1-0 Al Shabab

Iran’s Sepahan knew a win was needed to stay alive in Group C, while a victory for Shabab would see them seal their path into the second round.

It was the home side who grabbed the only goal of the game to bag three vital points. Midfielder Ahmad Jamshidian’s tenth minute strike was enough to take Sepahan to the verge of qualification.

Group D

Al Ahli 2-1 Mes Kerman

Five time UAE League champions Al Ahli have endured a pretty miserable ACL campaign so far this season. Their victory over Mes Kerman probably won’t be enough to take them into the second round, although mathematical they still have hope.

Things started well for the home side when Farzad Hosseinkhani put through his own net to gift the Dubai based club the lead after just three minutes. Mehdi Rajabzadeh’s 75th minute equaliser looked to have condemned Al Ahli to elimination, but Ahmad Khalil’s 83rd minute penalty leaves them with a slim chance of second round qualification going into their final group game with Al Sadd on matchday 6.

Al Hilal 0-0 Al Sadd

Al Hilal lead group D with ten points from four games and a win would be enough to see them progress to the next round.

Despite the home side being unable to break down the 11-time Qatari League champions, the goalless draw confirmed Hilal’s qualification for the second round while Sadd know that a home win over Al Ahli on matchday 6 will be enough to secure their progression.

Adelaide United has qualified for the knockout stage of the Asian Champions League after battling its way to a 0-0 away draw against reigning champion Pohang Steelers.

The result at the Steelyard means both teams advance out of Group H, with Adelaide holding on to top spot – courtesy of a better head-to-head record – with a home game against Shandong Luneng still to be played.